Repeating device for phonographs



June 5, 1923. 1,457,428

J. A. EITUTIS REPEATING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Feb. 18.1921 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. A. EITUTIS REPEATING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS June 5, 1923.

Filed Feb. 18 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 5, 1923.

J. A. EITUTIS REPEATING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Feb. 18. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 afar ZZUZZS Patented June 5, 1923.

.IoIm a. nI'rif'rIs, or cIIIcAoo, ILLINOIS.

BEPEA'IING DEVICE FOB PHONOGRA PES.

Application filed February 18, 1921. Serial no. 446,023.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, JOHN A. EITUTIS, a citizen of the present government of Lithuania, residing at Chica o, in the county pf Cook and State of Illinois, have invented newand useful Improvements in Repeating Devices for Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a repeating device for phonographs, whereby the playing of a record on the turn-table may be repeated automatically as many times as desired.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved repeating device, one that is simple in construction and accurate in operation and located below the motor-board so as to be concealed from view and not interfere with placing a record on and removing it from the turn-table.

The invention consists further in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompan ing drawings Fig. 1 is a view ooking-down on the top wall of a phonograph of theflat disc record type and equipped with a repeating device constructed and mounted in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom lan view of the device of my invention and shown gearedto the motor of the phonograph;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the rockably mounted key;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a detail of construction to be hereinafter described;

Figs. 9 and 10 are vertical sectional views taken on lines 99 and 10-10, respectively, of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 11 is a view of the parts of Fig. 9 shown adjusted to what is called throw off position.

In the drawings, the repeating device of my invention is shown applied to a phono graph of the cabinet type having a flat top wall 1, in which is set a motor-board 2. Through and above this board 2 extends the spindle 3 rotated by a spring motor 4 (Fig. 3) suspended from the under side of this board 2, as usual in phonograph constructlon. Mounted on the spindle 3, above the board 2, 1s a fiat turn-table 5 having the usual felted upper surface to support a flat to disc record 6. The tone arm 7 carries at its outer or swinging end a reproducer 8 having a stylus 9 to travel in the playing groove of the record, as-customary. The opposite or inner end of the tone arm 7 opens into a tubular base section or support-10 rigidl secured to the top wall 1 at the rear 0 the turn-table 5, as usual, and in the type of machine illustrated, the connection between in a horizontal plane over the turn-table to permit the stylus to follow the playing groove in the record, and also to allow the arm to be swung up and down in a vertical such parts is such that the arm 7 may swing "'0 plane to enable the stylus to be raised off above and be placed on the record.

The repeating device of my invention is constructed and applied to the machine shown, in the following manner. Located beneath the motor-board 2 and secured to the under side thereof is a plate 11 having two depending webs 12and 13 spaced apart and supporting a h rizontally arranged shaft 14 extending between and journaled in said webs, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fixed I to the shaft 14 is a worm gear 15 in mesh with a worm 16 fixed to a shaft 17, arranged above and transverse to the shaft 14, as

- shown. The shaft 17 extends between and is journaled in spaced lugs 18, 18, also depending from the plate 11,- as shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 17 is enlarged at one end to provide a hub 19, on which is loosely mounted a gear wheel 20 in mesh with a gear wheel 21, constituting gait of the spring motor 4 and rotated there y. 7

The loose gear 20 isheld in place on the hub 19 by an inside flange 22 with which the hub is provided and a cap 23 screwed into the hub 19-from the outside thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The hub 19 is provided with a concave key seat 24 to receive a rockably mounted key 25. The flange 22 and cap screw 23 have circular holes registering with the key seat 24 and form a'continuation thereof and receive the cylindric. ends 26, 27 of the key, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7. The portion of the key 25 between these ends is cut away to give it semi-cylindri'c form, and this part occupies the key seat 24. When the key is turned or rocked in one direction to bring this mid-portion down within the key a mamas seat 24, the gear is not clutched to the shaft 17, and thus when rotated by the motor gear 21 will not impart any rotatlon to the shaft 17 and the rest of the mechanism geared thereto. To permit the gear 20 to be clutched to the shaft 17, said gear is provided in its bore with a plurality of mwardly'openin semi-cylindric grooves 28 circumferential y s aced apart and adapted to receive the mi -portion of the key when the same is rocked in a direction to project such portion beyond the hub l9, as shown in Fi'. 6. When the gear 20 is thus clutched to t e shaft 17,'the motor gear 21 drives the gear 20 and the mechanlsm geared thereto.

To effect the rocking of the key 25 into and out of clutched engagement with the.

shaft 17, I provide an arm 29 arranged in front of the cap screw 23 and rigidly mounted on the outer end portion 27 of the key, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7. Between the ends of said arm 29 is a fixed pin or stud 30 to which is secured one end of a spring 31. The other end of the spring 31 is coiled about a stud 32 screwed into the cap 23 at one side of the key 25 and having its enlarged head overlap the lower end of the arm 29 and thus hold the key in the hub 19. The spring 31 normally exerts a pressure on the arm 29 in a direction to rock the key 25 into clutched engagement with the gear 20, and to limit the movement of the arm in this direction there is a stop pin 33 fixed to the ca 23, as shown in Fig. 8.

ivotally mounted on the under side of the plate 11 above the gear 20 is a bell crank lever 34, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The outer arm of this lever has its swinging end bent downward, as at 35, to be in the path of the arm 29 and to hold the arm against the tension of the sprin 31 in position with the key out of clutched engagement with the gear 20. The inner arm of the bell crank lever has its inner end rounded, as at 36, and this works in a concave socket in a fiat disc 37 on the under side of the plate 11 and fixed on the lower end of a rock shaft 38, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This shaft 38 extends up.- ward through the plate 11 and motor-board 2 and is held from vertical displacement by a clamp nut 39. A coiled spring 40 has one end secured to the disc 37 and the other end to a pin fixed to the plate 11, this spring serving to normally hold the disc 37 in position with the end 35 of the outer lever arm 34 in the path of the arm 29, as shown in of movement of an arm 42 clamped to a bracket 43 on the tone arm 7 at the base part 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The arm 42 is clamped to the bracket 43, between friction washers, by a set screw 44 or equivalent means, so that the arm 42 may be adjusted properly with respect to the arm 41. Also secured to the bracket 43, and thus carried by the tone arm 71 is a depending arm 45, havin a horizontally arranged portion 46 exten ing toward the turn-table 5, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Arranged to have vertical sliding movement on the depending web 13 of the plate 11 is a frame 47, clearly shown in Fig. 8. This has a vertical key 48 to slide in a vertical keyway 49 in said web 13, ,as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The frame 47 has guide bosses 50 on opposite sides of the key or spline 48, and t rough them extend vertical guide rods 51 secured to the plate 11 and depending therefrom. F or raising the frame 47 u and down, I provide a disc 52 fixed to the shaft 14 and having an internal cam slot or groove 53 to receive a roller 54 carried by the frame 47.

Said frame 47 has end webs 55, 55, between and throu h which extend three horizonally arrange rods 56, 57, and 58, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These rods are slidably supported by the end webs 55, and fixed to the outermost rod 56 between the end webs is a depending member or jaw 59. Fixed to the bottom rod 57 and the rear rod 58 is a depending member or jaw 60. The shaft 14 extends through the web 13 below the frame 47 and terminates between the jaws 59 and 60, as shown in Fig. 3. On

such end of this shaft is a crank arm 61 having at its outer end a roller 62 to alternately engage against the opposed side faces of the jaws as t e shaft 14 is rotated.

The jaw has an upward flat extension 63, which, when the device is applied to a machine, projects above the motor-board 2 through a recess 64 cut in said board in its edge adjacent the tone arm support 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The extension 63 is provided above the motor-board with a rigid finger 65 adapted to engage the horizontal portion 46 of the arm 45 beneath the same in the operation of the device and which operation will be presently described. At one side of the finger 65, the extension 63'has an enlarged head portion 66 having within it an arcuate slot 67. Pivoted on the extension 63 between its jaw 60 and upper end 66 is a setting lever 68. This has a bifurcated lower end 69 to receive the bent end of the outermost rod 56, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. To provide for this connection, the rod 56 is curved, as shown. The upper end of the lever 68 carries a pin 70 extending through the slot 67 and provided on its outer end with a nut 71 to clamp the lever in any of its adjusted positions in the length of said slot 67 The construction shown and described opcrates as follows. The arm 42 is clamped in position by the set screw 44 to extend along the center of the .tone arm 7, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. After a record is placed on the turn-table 5 and the latter started by releasing the brake in the usual manner, the tone arm is raised and the styhis 9 placed on the record at the beginning of the playin groove. The arm 29 of the key 25 is at this time held against the bent end 35 of the bell crank lever, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. As the spring motor 4 rotates the turn-table with the record thereon, none of the parts-of the repeating device are set in operation, as the key 25 is not engaged with the loose gear 20. At this time, the parts of the repeating mechanism occu y the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3. fter the stylus9 has traveled over the record and finished playing the selection thereof, it approaches the inner end -of the playing groove, and at that time the arm 42 carried by the tone arm 7 has been moved into contact with the trip 41 and serves to move the same in the direction to rock the vertical shaft 38 and consequently the disc 37 at the lower end thereof. In this movement, the bell crank lever 34 is rocked in a direction to move its bent outer end 35 out of the path of the arm 29, and immediately the spring 31 acts to throw the arm against the sto 33 and rock the key 25 to clutch the hereto ore idle shaft 17 to the ear 20. The shaft 17 is thereupon rotated y the motor gear 21 and the arm 29 carried around with the clutched gear and shaft. When this happens, the spring 40 rocks the disc 37 back and returns the bell crank lever 34 to its normal position with its bent end 35 in position to stop the arm 29 when it comes around with the gear 20 and rocks the key to release the gear.

As soon as the key 25 connects the gear 20 and shaft 17 together, the shaft 14 is rotated through the worm 16 and worm wheel 15. This causes the disc 52 to be turned, and by thecam groove 53 the frame 47 is raised upward. At this time the arm ortion 46 is above the fi er 65, and as the lhtter is moved upward t e tone arm 7 is raised and the stylus lifted from the record. If the record on the turn-table 5 is a ten inch one, as shown in Fig. 1, the lever 68 is set at the left-hand end of the slot67, when the parts are viewed as in Fig. 9. This causes the jaws 59, 60 to be spaced the required distance apart for such a record.

When the frame 47 has been raised to lift the stylus off of the record, the crank arm 61 comes in contact with the jaw 59, which at such time is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 9. As the crank arm is turned toward the jaw 59, it moves the same toward the right, Fig. 9, into the position shown in dotted lines, and carries with it 65 to its starting posit-ion,

the other jaw 60 and its extension 63. The tone arm being held up above the record by the finger 65, is swung outward across the face 0 crank arm 61 on the jaw 59. When the latter has reached the limit of its movement in this direction, the stylus is over the record at the beginning of the playing groove, and, as the crank arm moves down away from the jaw 59, the tone arm is allowed to descend until the stylus engages the record. The other jaw 60 is then in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9, and the frame 47 is moved down to carry the finger 65 below and out of contact with the arm 46, and the crank arm 61 engages the jaw 60 and moves it back to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 9. This returns the finger and ready to repeat the operation when the stylus completes the playing of the selection on the record and moves into the'end of the, play mg groove.

0 set the device for a larger record, say a twelve inch one, the lever 68 is moved toward the right until near the middle of the slot 67. This moves the jaw 59 nearer the one 60, to receive the crank arm 61 earlier and remain in contact therewith longer and thus move the jaw 60 toward the right a greater distance than when the jaw 59 is set for a ten inch. record. Consequently, the jaw 60 carries the tone arm to-the starting point of the playing groove of a twelve inch record, as it is moved nearer the shaft 14 and the tone arm is carried to the beginning of the playing groove-of such record. While the aw 59 is adjustable toward and from the aw 60, said ]9.WS move together as one when actuated by the crank arm. After the tone arm has been carried to the starting point of'a twelve inch record, the crank arm 61 moves downward out of contact with the jaw 59 and the frame 47 is lowered to place the stylus on the record. When the crank arm 61 moves in contact with the jaw 60, it returns said jaw back to the same position it started from, and this position is the same for all size records as the length of the crank arm is constant. But inasmuch as the jaw 59 is adjustable, the distance that the jaw 60 is moved toward the shaft 14 may be varied, and thereby permit setting the device for records of various sizes.

To set the device to carry the tone arm 7 out beyond the edge of the turn-table and move the tone arm clear of the record, no matter whether a ten or twelve inch one, the lever 68 is moved to the right-hand end of the slot 67, as shown in Fig. 11. This adjusts the jaw 59 closer to the jaw 60 than in either of the two other positions, and allows the Law 59 to remain in contact with the cran carry the tone arm clear of the turn-table the record by the action of the- 61 long enough to cause the jaw 60 to before the frame 47 is drawn downward. Thus, the tone arm 7 is moved into the position shown by dotted lines in F1 1 and the stylus allowed to rest on a pa 72 as the tone arm descends with the lowering of the frame 47. This pad is high enough to pick up the tone arm before the frame 47 reaches its lowest position, so that the finger may be carried down clear of the arm 46 and be carried back to starting position as the crank arm 61 engages the jaw 60.

To facilitate setting the lever 68 into these positions, the head 66 above the slot 67 is marked with the necessary indications, as shown in Fig. 9.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 11, the upper finger 65 has a stop lug 73 to engage the arm 46. The upper edge of the finger 65, as shown in said figures, is inclined backward toward the stop lug, so as to center the arm 46 against the lug and cause the tone arm to be swung horizontally the same distance outward for all records of the same size, no matter to what extent the selection falls short of the end of the playing groove.

The device of my invention is automatic in its action, and will repeat the playing of a record on the turn-table as many times as desired, without giving any attention to the same after the stylus is first placed at the beginning of the playing groove in the first instance. Moreover, the device may be set to repeat records of various diameters.

The device, in the main, is all located below the motor-board 2 and thus concealed from view and protected again injury and damage by being hit by the record in placing the same on the turn-table and removing it therefrom. Furthermore, the mechanism, in being below the motor-board, and having no parts projecting over the face of the turn-table, does not interfere with the placing of a record on the turn-table or removing it therefrom.

The device is simple in construction, positive in action, and easily applied to the machine whether as being built or afterwards.

While I have shown and described in detail a repeating device of my invention, it is to be of course understood that the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a phonograph, the combination with a motor, a turn-table above and driven thereby, and a tone arm mounted to swing over the turn-table and provided with a reproducer, of a repeating mechanism including means for raising the reproducer off of the record at the completion of the playing thereof and swinging the tone arm toward the outer edge of the record and lowering the reproducer to bring its stylus mamas into engagement with the record at the beginning of the playing groove, said mechanism being driven by said motor and thrown into clutch therewith by the tone arm upon the completion of the playing of the record and remaining in clutch with said motor until after the stylus of the reproducer is brought into contact with the record at the beginning of the playing groove, and means for setting the mechanism for, records of various diameters and also for swingin the tone arm clear of the outer edge 0 the turn-table when desired, said setting means being carried by said raising and lowering means.

2. In a phonograph, the combination of a motor, a turn-table above and driven thereby, a tone arm mounted to swing over the turn-table and provided with a reproducer having a stylus, and mechanism for repeating the playing of a record on the turn-tab comprising a member located between the turn-table and the inner end of the tone arm, means driven by the motor for moving said member vertically and laterally in both directions for raising the reproducer off of the record at the completion of the playing thereof and swin ing the tone arm toward the outer edge of the record and lowering the reproducer to place its stylus on the record at the beginning of the playing groove and returning said member to its starting position, and a clutch device operated by the tone arm for connecting said means with the motor upon the completion of the playing of the record and permitting said connection to be retained until said member is returned to its starting position.

3. In a phonograph, the combination of a motor, a turn-table above and driven thereby, a tone arm provided with a reproducer fixed to the outer end thereof and having a stylus, said tone arm being mounted to swing over the turn-table and to' be moved vertically with respect thereto, and mechanism for repeating the playing of a record on the turn-table, comprising a member located between the turn-table and the inner end of the tone arm, means driven by said motor and including a cam and a crank arm, the former for imparting vertical movement to said member for moving the same into and out of engagement with the tone arm for raising and lowering the stylus of the reproducer into and out of contact with the record, and the latter for imparting lateral movement to said member for swinging the tone arm over the record from the inner end of the playing groove to the outer end thereof and returning said member to its starting position after leaving the reproducer at its starting position, and a clutch device operated by the tone arm for connecting said motor driven means with the motor upon the completion of the playing of the record and permitting said means to remain connected with the motor unt l said member is returned to its starting position.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a support, a vertically movable member on said sup rt, opposed jaws carried by said mem er. said jaws being connected together to be moved laterally, means carried by said support and including a cam and a crank arm, the former engaged with said member to move the same vertically, and the latter being located between said jaws to impart lateral movement thereto, one of said jaws having an extension adapted to be moved with the jaw into and out of engagement with the tone arm of a phonograph, a gear wheel adapted to be driven by the motor of a phonograph, and a clutch device between said gear wheel and said means and adapted when operated to connect said gear wheel with said means and retain such connection during a complete rotation of said gear wheel.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a support having two depending webs, a vertically movable member keyed to one of said webs, opposed jaws slidably supported by said member, said jaws being connected together and adapted to be moved laterally, a shaft extending between and journaled in said webs, a cam fixed to said shaft and engaging a roller on said member for moving the same vertically, a crank arm fixed on said shaft and located between said jaws for moving the same laterally, a gear wheel adapted to be driven by the motor of the phonograph and having power transmitting connection with said shaft, and a clutch device between said gear wheel and said shaft for connecting said gear wheel thereto, one of said jaws being provided with an extension adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the tone arm of a phonograph when movement is imparted to said jaws by said shaft.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a support having depending webs, a vertically movable member keyed to one of said webs, opposed jaws slidably carried by said member, one of said jaws being provided with an extension adapted to be moved into and out of contact with a part on the tone arm of a phonograph when movement is imparted to said member and jaws, said jaws being connected together and adapted to be moved laterally, a shaft extending between and journaled in said webs, a cam fixed to said shaft and engaging a roller on said member for moving the same vertically, a crank arm fixed to said shaft and arranged between said jaws for imparting lateral movement there to, a second shaft mounted on said support,

to one of said webs, opposed jaws slidably supported by said member and connected together, one of said jaws having an extension adapted to be moved with the jaw into and out of engagement with a part on the tone arm of a phonograph, a shaft extending between and ournaled in said webs, a cam fixed on said shaft and engaged with said member for moving the same verticall a crank arm between said jaws and fixe to said shaft for moving said jaws laterally, a second shaft journaled on said support, meshing gear wheels, one on each of said shafts, a gear wheel loosel mounted on said second shaft, a key rockably mounted on said second shaft beneath said gear wheel and adapted to be moved into and out of clutch engagement therewith, a spring pressed arm carried by said key, a bell crank lever pivoted on said support and having one .end in the ath of movement of said arm for normal y holding the keyout of,

clutch engagement with said loose gear wheel, and means adapted to be operated by the tone arm of a phonograph for moving said bell crank lever out of engagement with said arm to permit the key to connect said loose gear wheel with said second shaft, and spring means for returning said bell crank lever in the path of movement of said arm to rock said key out of engagement with said gear wheel.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a support, a vertically movable member on said support, opposed jaws carried by said member, one of said jaws having an extension adapted to be moved with the jaw into and out of engagement with a part on the tone arm of a phonograph, said jaws being connected together to move laterally, and driving means carried by said support, including a cam and a crank arm, the former engaged with said member to move the same vertically, and the latter being located between said jaws to impart lateral movement thereto, said jaws being adjustable laterally relativelyv to each other so as to vary the amount of time that the crank arm remains in contact therewith.

9. In a phono aph, the combination of a motor, a turn-ta le above and driven thereby, a tone arm provided with a reproducer at its outer end having a stylus, said tone arm beingmounted to swing over the turn- .upper edge, and a sto table and movable vertically with respect thereto, and mechanism for repeating the playing of a record on the turn-table, com- PIlSlIlg a vertically and a laterally movable.

member located between the turn-table and the inner end of the tone arm and havin a fixed finger with a downwardly inclined at the inner end thereof, an arm carrie by said tone arm and adapted to be engaged by said finger for lifting the tone arm and raising the reproducer ofi of the record and swingin the tone arm toward the outer edge thereof,

amaze and means located below the turn-table and geared to said motor for imparting vertical 15 and lateral movement to and member and adapted to be thrown into clutch with the motor by the tone arm upon .the completion of the playing of the record and to remain in clutch with the motor until the return 20 of said member to its starting osition.

\In testimony that I claim t e foregoing as my mvention, I aflix my signature, this 10th day. of February, A. D. 1921.

JOHN A. EITUTIS. 

